holmquist



Sept, 2', 1924. 1,507,483

J. A. HOLMQUIST TAXIMETBR FUEL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June -8. 1923 INVENTOR. Jaw/v A HOLI IQU/SZ ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN A. HOLMQUIST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TAXIMETER FUELCONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed June 8,

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. Homroursr, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Taximeter F uelGontrol Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fuel control devices for motor vehicles and more particularly to a novel and improved mechanism connected to any conventional type of mileage meters such as commonly used on taxicabs.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a fuel control connected to the indicating arm or flag of a taximeter including provisions for cutting off the fuel supply when a seat within the motor vehicle is cocupied, thus compelling the driver to actuate or turn the flag so that the meter will register.

It has been common practice to defeat the purposes of a taximeter by unscrupulous employees when carrying aassengers to operate the automobile without lowering the taXimeter arm with the result that the owners of the machines are unable to tell with any degree of certainty if passengers have been carried or What-amount of business has been done. The main object of my invention, therefore, is to control the supply of fuel when a seat is occupied, thus compelling the operator to use the taximeter before fuel can flow to the carburetor and thus registering the fare collected.

I accomplish the above objects and others which will be more readily understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein;

Figure 1 is a view partly in section showing the mechanism connected to the taximeter and beneath the seat of a motor vehicle for controlling the fuel supply to the carburetor.

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the seat actuated controlling means for the fuel supply.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view of the seat operated control shown by Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view partly in section of a bypass to the fuel. control.

Figure 5 is a further detail partly in sec- 1923. Serial No. 644,274.

tion of the control connected to a folding seat.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the conventional type of motor vehicle, 6 a carburetor and 7 a vacuum tank which is connected by apipe or lead 8 to a main supply tank 9 positioned at the rear of the machine as shown by Figure 1 of the drawings. Positioned between the carburetor 6 and vacuum tank 7, I have provided a bypass 10. The passage 11 of the bypass is provided with a control valve 12 connected by an arm 13 to a rod 14, which rod is pivotally connected to actuate a bell crank lever 15 positioned below thefloor of the vehicle. The opposite end of the bell crank lever is in turn connected to a rod 16 attached to the taximeter flag 17 so that when the latter is depressed or rotated, the valve 12 will be actuated and perm-it the passage of fuel through this portion of the by-pass and into the lead or pipe to the carburetor. The opposite passage 18 of the by-pass is likewise provided with a control valve 19, connected by an arm 20 to an actuating rod 21, the latter being pivotally connected to a pair of hell crank levers 22, 23, respectively beneath the folding and stationary seats of the motor vehicle.

Under normal conditions, the valve 12 is closed, and the valve 19 is opened so that fuel may pass through the passage 18 to the carburetor. When a seat is occupied, however, the valve 19 is closed and consequently the valve 12 must be opened to. permit of the passage of fuel and this can only be effected y actuating the taximeter flag, as above indicated.

Reference being had to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the operation of the valve 19 by the seat is efiected through any one of a series of spring con trolled rods 26 extending upwardly through a slot in the bottom of the seat and provided with a coiled spring 27 therein, said rod havinga washer and nut near its lower end as in icated at 28 to actuate a spring held lever 29 mounted on a horizontal shaft 30. A stop 31 limits the movement of the arm 29, which as shown, is held by a spring 32 whereby the arm may return to its normal position when downward pressure is released from the seat 25 when the latter is not occupied. The arm 29 is in turn connected by a. universal connection St to the bell crank lever 23 whereby the movement of the connecting rod 21 is effected. y

In the same manner, the bell crank lever 22 is adapted to be actuated by the spring controlled rod 35 extending through the housing 36 and provided with the spring 37 which rod is in turn connected to the hinged portion 38 of thefolding seat 39 so that as said folding seat is lowered, the bell crank lever 22 will be actuated so that the rod 21 will open or close the valve 19 as the case may be.

As above indicated, the mechanism constructed and arranged as described, controls the passage of fuel to the carburetor by the position of thetaximeter flag when the seats are not occupied in which instance, the flag will be raised and when the seats are occupied, the fuel supply is closed until the taximeter flag is lowered, in which position, the meter will register. All of the above mechanism is arranged and practically concealed beneath the motor vehicle body and is a very positive means of preventing fraud.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of'clianging the form ofthe details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. p

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is within each of the said conduits, means connecting the valve in the by-pass conduit with the indicator arm of a taximeter, and means operable by the seat to open and close the valve in the main fuel conduit.

2. A taximeter fuel control mechanism in combination with the seat and fuel supply system of a motor vehicle, comprising amain fuel conduit, a by-pass conduit in communication with said main fuel conduit, a valve within the said main fuel conduit and the by-pass conduit, an arm and actuating'rod connected to each of the respective valves, means connecting one of said rods to the indicator arm of the taximeter to open and close the valve in the by-pass conduit, and means connecting the second rod to the seat of the vehicle whereby the valve in the main conduit may be actuated when the seat'is depressed.

3. A taximeter fuel control mechanism in combination with the seat and fuel supply system of a motor vehicle, comprising a main fuel conduit, a by-pass conduit in communication with the main fuel conduit, avalve within each of the said conduits, means secured beneath the seat of the vehicle to close the valve in the main fuel conduit, and means connecting the second valve to the in-, dicating arm of the taXimeter topermit the passage of the fuel only when said arm is lowered.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

OHN aJHoLMoUIsT. (L. 3.] 

